Mar. 14, 2010

This is an attempt to awaken the unconscious readers of The Times as to what their head of local civil government, Mayor Cedric Glover, stands for.

By encouraging the actions of a Shreveport police officer who confiscated a firearm from law-abiding Shreveport citizen Robert Baillio during a routine traffic stop, Glover steps out as a man who wants to control the population that, mistakenly, elected him to the office of mayor. People of this type seem to have notable traits. Some of these people might have become Lenin, Mao, Stalin, etc.

The unidentified police officer most certainly likes to exercise the power behind the badge. This "law enforcement officer," in my opinion, breaks the law he has sworn to uphold. I believe the oath the officer swears to involves the U.S. Constitution.

The officer "allegedly" pulls Baillio over for failing to use his turn signal. According to Baillio, the officer never again mentions the turn signal, nor does he request a driver's license, proof of insurance or registration. The officer just talks about "guns," searches Baillio's vehicle when he answered that he had a weapon and, in my view, steals Baillio's firearm. This seems to me to be unreasonable search without the permission of a law-abiding citizen. So much for police protection.

Indeed, Baillio states that his pro-gun (pro-freedom) bumper stickers on the rear window of his truck led to two questions from this Shreveport law enforcement officer. The officer asked Baillio whether he had a gun in his possession and if Baillio is a member of a pro-gun organization.

Louisiana law (I will ignore the U.S. Constitution just like the law officer did) permits the vehicle carry of concealed and loaded firearms. Consult the "Travelers Guide to the Firearm Laws of the 50 States" for specific details or just consult Louisiana laws.

The mayor stated that Baillio was "served well, protected well and even got a consideration that maybe he should not have gotten." He further asserted that had Baillio not cooperated that, in the interest of the law enforcement officer's safety, he could have been taken from the vehicle and secured in a safe position prior to the search.

I'm no lawyer; however, I do believe the establishment of "reasonable suspicion" by a law enforcement officer precedes "probable cause" for a search by that officer. In this circumstance, the officer(s) will not be asking "if you have" and "where it is"; the officer(s) will simply search the vehicle.

My belief is the mayor should be recalled and the Shreveport police officer fired for not having enforced the laws of the state of Louisiana and these United States of America. I shall attempt to avoid Shreveport while a dictator is in charge; and at least one member of the local police would do well in Germany's Gestapo of the past.

Civil and constitutional rights seem to me to be one and the same in this story. I believe God gave us our right to protect and defend ourselves and to protect ourselves with firearms. With firearms because they are available and the balance of power is more equitable for women, the weak and physically infirm. That statement is a common-sense approach to bearing arms for one's safety and the safety of those in need.

The Second Amendment to the Bill of Rights (See the Constitution for more specific detail) defines our right to gun ownership best.

We should be vigilant in the protection of our God-given rights, our freedom, our country. This country seems somewhat less free as time goes on. This must be due to a lack of vigilance on our part. Without our vigilant protection of what is right, will we not deserve what has occurred and is occurring in so many countries around the world?